Remote communication system and method

ABSTRACT

A method comprises determining a status of an object on a first device and sending an indicator of the status of the object to a remote device, the indicator being configured to allow the remote device to present the status of the object. The method may further comprise establishing audio and video communication with the remote device. The audio and video communication with the remote device may be established over a network. The object may be a book, and the status may be associated with a page number of the book. The method may further comprise displaying animated content based on the determined status of the object. The displaying of animated content may include displaying an animated character providing commentary or asking questions related to content associated with the object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of electroniccommunication and, more particularly, to devices and methods for remotecommunication associated with an object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention relates to a method comprising determining astatus of an object on a first device and sending an indicator of thestatus of the object to a remote device, the indicator being configuredto allow the remote device to present the status of the object.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises establishing audio andvideo communication with the remote device. The audio and videocommunication may be part of a video conference session. The audio andvideo communication with the remote device may be established over anetwork.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises recording audio andvideo content and later communicating this content with the remotedevice. The audio and video content may be part of a recorded movie. Therecorded content may be communicated to the remote device over anetwork.

In one embodiment, the object is a physical object. The object may be abook, and the status may be associated with a page number of the book.

In one embodiment, the object is a virtual object. The object may be anelectronic book.

In one embodiment, the status is a physical state of the object.

In one embodiment, the object is a book, and the status is a page numberof the book.

In one embodiment, the object is a book, and the status is selectedcontent in the book.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying animatedcontent based on the determined status of the object. The displaying ofanimated content may include displaying an animated character providingcommentary or asking questions related to content associated with theobject.

In another aspect of the invention, a method comprises receiving anindicator of a status of an object at a remote device; determining thestatus of the object at the remote device based on the receivedindicator; and presenting the status of the object to a user.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus comprising atleast one processor and at least one memory including computer programcode. The at least one memory and the computer code are configured to,working with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to performat least the following: determining a status of an object on a firstdevice; and sending an indicator of the status of the object to a remotedevice, the indicator being configured to allow the remote device topresent the status of the object.

In one embodiment, the object is a book and the apparatus furthercomprises a receptacle for receiving a book therein.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises one or more sensorsconfigured to determine the status of the book.

In another aspect of the invention, a method comprises determining astatus of an object on a first device at one or more time points;recording an indicator of the status at the one or more time points as asession; and sending the session to a remote device, the indicators inthe session being configured to allow the remote device to determine thestatus of the object. In one embodiment, the session further includesaudio and video content.

In another aspect, a method comprises receiving a recorded session froma remote device, the session comprising indicators of one or morestatuses of an object, the session further comprising audio and videocontent associated with each of the one or more statuses of the object;and detecting a current status the object; and playing the audio andvideo content associated with the detected current status of the object.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method comprisingrecording audio and video content related to an object; associating eachof one or more portions of the audio and video content with a status ofthe object; and storing the audio and video content and the associationof the audio and video content on a storage media. In one embodiment,the method further comprises detecting the status of the object duringrecording of the audio and video content.

In another aspect, a method comprises detecting a current status of anobject; determining an association of the detected current status with aportion of a recorded audio and video content; and playing the portionof the audio and video content associated with the detected currentstatus of the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a book for use with the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 functioning with the book ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a process in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an overview diagram of a system within which variousembodiments of the present invention may be implemented;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the circuitry which may beincluded in an exemplary electronic device which may be utilized inaccordance with the various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Long distance families often desire to connect via remote sharedexperiences. Currently, telephone and video conferencing technologiesare used for young and old members to connect over a distance via sharedconversations or play.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for, among otherpossibilities, a remote shared document reading experience. For example,a user interface may provide information related to the physical stateof the other participant's document. In this regard, a videoconferencing system may be incorporated with a physical document readerand communications system to share the state of the documents. Further,a conversational software agent, such as an animated character (e.g.,Sesame Street®'s Elmo), may be provided by the user interface to meetyoung children's developmental stages.

Embodiments of the present invention may apply to a variety ofdistance-collaboration activities, such as distance learning for allages of users. Embodiments of the present invention sense the state of adocument and transmit an indicator of the sensed state to a remotedevice for document display on the remote device, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an example apparatus according to an embodimentof the present invention is illustrated. The illustrated apparatus 100includes a book frame 110 with a receptacle 112 for receiving a booktherein. The book frame 110 may be formed from a variety of materials,such as wood, plastic or other such materials. Further, the book frame110 may be foldable in a manner similar to a book.

The receptacle 112 is configured to receive a binding of a book therein.In this regard, the receptacle 112 may include a series of grooves toreceive corresponding spirals or rings of a book binding, for example.The receptacle 112 and the grooves may be sized to accommodate certainbooks, for example.

The book frame 110 may be provided with a mechanism for detecting astatus of a book that is positioned in the receptacle 112. In theillustrated embodiment, this mechanism comprises a series of magneticsensors 114 embedded within the body of the book frame 110. The magneticsensors 114 are configured to sense corresponding magnets in a book, asdescribed in greater detail below.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus 100further includes one or more video displays 116, 118 operatively coupledto the book frame 110. In the illustrated embodiment, two video displays116, 118 are provided. In other embodiments, fewer or greater number ofsuch displays may be provided. In various embodiments, the videodisplays 116, 118 comprise touch screens configured to receive inputfrom a user through a touch. In other embodiments, other mechanisms forreceiving user input, such as one or more keys, may be provided.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a book for use with theapparatus of FIG. 1 is illustrated. The book 200 includes a plurality ofpages 210 with text, graphics or other content printed thereon. Thepages 210 are secured to each other by a binding 212 which may comprise,for example, rings or spirals.

Each page in the plurality of pages 210 may include one or more magnet214 embedded therein. The magnets 214 are configured to uniquelyidentify the page to which the book 200 is open.

FIG. 3 provides a schematic illustration of the apparatus of FIG. 1. Theapparatus 100 includes a central processor 120 configured to controloperation of the apparatus 100. The central processor 120 is coupled toa status detection 122 module. The status detection module 122 may becoupled to, for example, the magnetic sensors 114 and may use input fromthe magnetic sensors 114 to determine, for example, the identity of thebook, the page to which the book is open or other such information.

The central processor 120 is further coupled to the video displays 116,118. In this regard, the central processor 120 may control the content(e.g., images, video, graphics, etc.) to be displayed on the videodisplays 116, 118. Further, in the case the video displays 116, 118include touch screens, the central processor 120 may be configured toreceive and process inputs received through the video displays 116, 118.In other embodiments, the central processor 120 may be coupled to otherinput devices, such as a keyboard.

The apparatus 100 may further include a radio interface 124 and anantenna 126 configured to allow the apparatus 100 to communicate withone or more other electronic devices. Again, the radio interface 124 iscoupled to the central processor 120 to allow the central processor 120to control the communication and to process incoming and outgoingcommunication signals.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is illustrated asfunctioning with the book 200 of FIG. 2. As described above, the book200 is received by the book frame 110 by positioning of the book bindingin the receptacle. In accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention, the apparatus 100 may communicate with another communicationdevice, thereby allowing the user of the remote device to participate inthe reading of the book. Thus, for example, a travelling parent or aremote grandparent may be able to read a book with a child whileinteracting with the child.

In one embodiment, a communication session may be established betweenthe apparatus 100 and one or more remote devices. The remote devices maybe similar to the apparatus 100 or may be a completely different type ofdevice, such as that described below with reference to FIG. 5. Thecommunication session may be any of a variety of sessions, such as avideoconference session, for example.

Once the communication session is established, the user of the apparatus100 may be able to see remote users 132 on the video display 116. Invarious embodiments, the apparatus 100 may also include a camera (notshown) to allow the remote users to view the user of the apparatus 100.In some embodiments, instead of live pictures of the remote users 132,photographs of the remote users may be displayed. The photographs may bepreviously stored on the apparatus or may be accessed by the apparatusfrom the remote devices or another source.

In addition to the images of the remote users 132, the video display 116may also present an image 134 indicative of the pages being viewed bythe remote users. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, this image134 is a graphic image of the page. In other embodiments, the image 134may be a page number or another indicator of the content being viewed bythe remote user.

Further, the video display 116 may include icon 136 allowing the user toaccess or execute another function. For example, in the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 4, the icon 136 may allow the user to disconnect, orhang up, the communication session. Other functions available throughsuch icons may include initiating a communication session with aselected remote user or accepting an invitation from a remote device forestablishment of a communication session. In this regard, a contact listmay be made available for selection of a remote user.

In accordance with embodiments of the illustrated embodiment, the videodisplay 118 may provide the user with a display of a character 142. Thecharacter 142 may be an animated character, a live-action character, apuppet of any other such character, collectively referred to herein asanimated characters. The character 142 may be represented as a stillimage or, preferably, a moving image from, for example, a video clip. Inaddition, the video display 118 may provide an icon 144, such as a staror a light bulb, for selection by the user to select a function. In oneembodiment, the icon 144 may appear at various points based on thesensed content or status of the book 200. Selection of the icon 144 maycause a video clip of the character 142 to be launched.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate the apparatus 100 with a physical book 200. Inother embodiments, the book 200 may replaced with a virtual object, suchas an electronic book. One such embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 5, the apparatus 100 is replaced with a computingdevice such as a laptop computer 300. Those skilled in the art willunderstand that any other computing or communication device may be usedas well and is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a software application running on thelaptop computer 300 may provide for the use of a digital, or electronic,book 310 displayed on a monitor 302. The digital book may be displayedas a graphical image of the physical book, a scroll or a document in anyof a variety of word processing utilities, for example. Further, inplace of the magnetic sensors of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 4, theembodiment of FIG. 5 may use software to determine the status of thebook 310. As noted above, the status may include the identity of thebook the page number of the book or other parameter indicative of thecontent being viewed, for example.

In addition to the electronic book 310, the user may be presented withvisual presentations of the remote user 332 and the content being viewedby the remote user 334 in a window 316. Further, the character 342, andicons 344, 336 may also be displayed on the monitor 302 in conjunctionwith the book 310.

Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, acommunication session may allow a child to use the apparatus to read abook with a remote user, such as a traveling parent or a remotegrandparent. In this regard, embodiments of the present invention allowtwo users to interact remotely with each other and an object, such as abook.

In one embodiment, the invention allows a live communication sessionbetween a remote user and a local user. In another embodiment, theinvention allows an asynchronous communication session between theremote user and the local user. In this embodiment, the remote user maycreate a record of a session, such as reading a book for the local user,and later send this recording to the local user's device. The local usermay then watch and/or listen to the recording of the remote user'ssession. In another embodiment, the invention may cause the recording toplay based on changes to the status of the local book object. Forexample, recordings of individual book pages may be played when thelocal user turns his book to different pages.

In this regard, the local device may receive a recorded session from theremote device. The session may include a series of indicators, eachindicator corresponding to a different status of the object. Forexample, each indicator may correspond to a different page of the book.The recorded session may further include audio and video contentassociated with each of the one or more statuses of the object. Thisaudio and video content may include, for example, the adult reading thebook or commenting on the particular page of the book. The local devicemay detect the current status of the local object and, accordingly, playthe audio and video content associated with the detected current statusof the object.

In another embodiment, the invention allows for a local mode ofoperation. In this embodiment, a user may access a previously recordedsession. In this regard, an audio and video session of the reading maybe recorded for later reply on the device. In this regard, during theinitial reading, a parent may read to a child or may read alone. Ineither case, the embodiments of the invention allow for later viewing bythe child. During the initial reading, audio and video content of thereading may be recorded. Different portions of the audio and videocontent may be marked, tagged or otherwise associated with the status ofthe book (e.g., page number). As noted above, the association mayinclude detection of the status of the book. In one embodiment, theaudio and video content is recorded as a single session with differentportions associated with different pages, for example.

When the child wishes to later read the book with the adult, the devicemay operate in a local mode and replay the recorded audio and videocontent. Again, the status of the book may be detected, and the portionof the audio and video content associated with the detected status maybe played.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flow chart illustrates a process 400 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The process 400may be applied to a device, such as the apparatus 100 with the bookframe 110 and a book 200 or another communication device with anelectronic book, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The illustrated process 400shows certain steps. However, those skilled in the art will understandthat other steps may be implemented before the process 400, after theprocess 400 or between the various steps of the process 400. Forexample, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the step ofestablishing a communication session between two devices may beimplemented before the process 400.

In the process 400, the first device determines the status of an object(block 410). In this regard, the first device may be the localapparatus, such as the book frame 110 operated by a child. Further, theobject may be the book 200, and the status of the object may be theidentity of the book, the page number to which the book is open oranother identifier of the content being viewed by the user. Thedetermination of the status may be achieved in a variety of manners. Forexample, as described above with reference to FIGS. 1-4, magneticsensors may be placed in the book frame 110 to detect the status of thebook based on magnets located in the pages of the book 200. In otherembodiments, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and sensors,magnetic switches (reed switches), hall effect sensors, Near FieldCommunication (NFC) tags and sensors or light sensors may be usedinstead of the magnets. In still other embodiments, a camera directed atthe book may be used to capture an image of the content being viewed bythe user or to read a barcode of the book or page. The captured imagemay be used to identify (or detect) the content being viewed. Thoseskilled in the art will understand that numerous other ways ofdetermining the status of the object are possible and are contemplatedwithin the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, one or more magnets and sensors may be used touniquely identify a book from among a collection of books. In thisregard, two or more sensors and magnets on the last page of the book maybe reserved to distinguish among three or more possible books.

In other embodiments, RFID tags with known ID's may be used to identifya book. In still other embodiments, a camera may be used to capture animage, and software may compare the visual appearances of differentpages to a collection of known book pages.

At block 412, a determination may be made as to whether the status ofthe object has changed. In this regard, the determination may be madebased upon a continuous or regular monitoring of the status.Alternatively, a trigger may be activated upon a change in the status ofthe object. If the determination at block 412 is made that no statuschange has occurred, the process may return to block 410. On the otherhand, if the determination is made that the status has changed, theprocess proceeds to block 414.

At block 414, the first device sends an indicator of the determinedstatus of the object. The communication session may be in any of avariety of formats and protocols such as, for example, WiFi, Bluetooth,GSM or wired communications such as Ethernet. Further, rather thantransmitting the actual status (e.g., content being viewed), theindicator sent to the second device may be sufficient to allow thesecond device to the status of the object. For example, the indicatormay be a page number, a line number, or a bookmark number associatedwith the content being viewed. The remote device may be capable ofdisplaying an image of the remotely displayed page by correlating theindicator to a database of images associated with known books and pages.The database of known books and pages may be shared (e.g., stored on anetwork server), or multiple copies of the database may exist locally onthe connected devices. In the case of a digital book, a book ID and pageID information may be sensed by determining the software state of theprogram which represents and controls the state of the digital book.

Once the second device receives the indicator, the second device maydetermine the status of the object that was determined by the firstdevice (block 416). In this regard, the second device may include, orhave access to, software, data or database to enable the second deviceto use the received indicator to determine the status. In theembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the first device (being operatedby the child) may transmit an indicator of the book, portion of thebook, the page number of the book or another parameter associated withthe content being viewed, to the second device (being operated by aremote adult). The second device may then use the indicator to determinethe content being viewed by the child.

The status may then be presented to the user of the second device (block418). In this regard, the adult may be presented with an image of thebook pages being viewed by the child, such as image 134 (FIG. 4) orimage 334 (FIG. 5). In other embodiments, the second device may merelypresent a page number to the adult. The adult may then manually turn thepages of the book, either physical or virtual, to the presented pagenumber. Of course, other parameters associated with the content beingviewed may be presented to the user and are contemplated within thescope of the present invention.

As described above, an animated character 142, 342, such as SesameStreet®'s Elmo, may be presented to the user. In this regard, a softwareagent may be implemented to allow and encourage interaction by a childreading the book. The software agent may use the animated character tomake aspects of the user interface intuitive to children by instructingthem verbally with a familiar character. Further, during a communicationsession with one or more other devices, instances of the animatedcharacter may be synchronized on all devices. In this regard, anindicator of the instance of the animated character may be sent to theremote devices to allow such synchronization. The indicator may beindicative of, for example, a video clip of the animated characterstored on the device.

Live action video footage of the animated character may be used asdisplay elements of the software program. The animated character mayguide the user through user interface actions such as making a phonecall or answering a call to establish the communication session.Further, the animated character may provide programmatic feedback to theuser, such as asking the user questions about content being viewed orread. For example, the animated character may ask questions about a bookthe child is reading. Since the system knows which page the child isreading, the animated character may ask questions and make comments thatpertain to the content currently being viewed.

The animated character may be an element of the user interface andrepresents software state by speaking and visually providing queues tothe user. In one example embodiment, a single movie may be providedwhich includes a variety of live action video footage of the animatedcharacter. The software may dynamically play different clips of videofootage in response to different software states. For example, when abook is opened, a video clip may be played which shows the animatedcharacter saying to the user: “Hello, let's read a book.”

In one example, a child opens the book 200 on the book frame 110 (seeFIG. 4) to read with a remote grandparent. Upon opening the book, thesoftware agent is in a local, asynchronous mode in which the animatedcharacter reacts only to local input and local software state. Forexample, the animated character may ask: “Who do you want to read withtoday?” The child may be offered a selection of remote users though, forexample, a series of pictures on a touch screen. The child may touch aphotograph of his grandmother, which will initiate a video call to thegrandparent. For incoming calls, the animated character may instruct thechild to “answer the phone please.” In this regard, a photograph of thecaller (e.g., grandma) may be presented to the child. When thecommunication session is established, the animated character may say“hooray, we're all going to read together!”

In another example, the method may be used in a non-networked mode usingthe software agent to scaffold interaction with the local object. Forinstance, a child may read a book and the animated character may makecomments about the book to the child, or read the book to the child.

Once the communication session is established, the software agent shiftsto a synchronous mode in which the animated character reacts to inputand software state of both connected systems. In this regard, it isnoted that each of the devices in the communication session may providethe appropriate software to allow exchange of information (e.g.,indicators) to allow functioning in synchronous mode. In one embodiment,input to a single animated character (either the one on the local deviceor the one on the remote device) will cause both animated characters tooutput the same result. At various times, the software agent may presentan icon, such as a star 144 (FIG. 4), a light bulb or a thought bubble,to signify that the animated character may be activated. If the usertouches the icon, the animated character on all devices in thecommunication session may say the same thing to their respective users.In this regard, the same video clip may be played at each device. Forexample, each device may play a video clip showing the animatedcharacter asking, “How many knots can you count on this page?”

Even though the users may not have identical interfaces, the connectedagents will output similar results. For example, one user may have aphysical book, while the other user may have a virtual, electronic book.

In various embodiments, different users may have different inputcontrols. For example, an adult may have “puppeteering” controls thatallow the adult user to manipulate the animated character in ways thechild is not able to do. For example, the adult user may be able to pushbuttons to make Elmo say “yes” or “no” in response to questions she askshim. The adult user may also be allowed to ask the animated character aquestion, then trigger the animated character to answer yes in asynchronized manner. Since the child does not have access to the “yes”controls, the adult user can create the illusion that the animatedcharacter is acting intelligently.

In one embodiment, the software agent includes multiple copies of asingle software agent which are distributed to the individual devices. Asingle agent may have an autonomous behavior when one device is notcommunicating with other devices, and in which the agent's outputbecomes synchronized with other agents when multiple agents arecommunicating over a network. The system of software agents may includetwo or more copies of a single agent. As used herein, the software agentmay include a user interface featuring an animated character. As usedherein, an “animated character” may be a live-action video of acharacter (e.g., a puppet, live-action video of person, a cartooncharacter, audio content (a character voice), a physical object withcharacter qualities with embedded speaker for sound output (e.g., adoll, plush toy, pillow with a face on it, etc.).

In various embodiments, a single copy of the software may transfer localinput and state information from the local agent to the remote agent.For example, when the user activates the local agent, the softwaredetermines that a certain agent response will be triggered, and thentransmits to the remote agent information that the certain response willbe triggered. The local agent will wait for the data to transfer andwill then play the response locally. The remote agent will receive thedata and will synchronously play the same response on the remote device.This creates the sense among distributed users that all users areinteracting with the same agent.

Once multiple devices are connected in a communication session, userinput to a single agent may cause the user's view of a single agent andconnected users' views of connected agents to output the same result.

The use of a software agent in the user interface supports any user(even very young children or illiterate users) to use the device.Synchronization of multiple connected agents' states allows multipleusers to treat multiple agents as views of a single agent. Local datamay be cached locally on multiple devices so that low bandwidth is usedto coordinate the agents' behaviors in real-time.

The system also uses a conversational agent to scaffold interaction(e.g., discussion) between parties. This can help focus users' attentiontowards a shared activity or document.

FIG. 7 shows a system 10 in which various embodiments of the presentinvention can be utilized, comprising multiple communication devicesthat can communicate through one or more networks. The system 10 maycomprise any combination of wired or wireless networks including, butnot limited to, a mobile telephone network, a wireless Local AreaNetwork (LAN), a Bluetooth personal area network, an Ethernet LAN, atoken ring LAN, a wide area network, the Internet, etc. The system 10may include both wired and wireless communication devices.

For exemplification, the system 10 shown in FIG. 7 includes a mobiletelephone network 11 and the Internet 28. Connectivity to the Internet28 may include, but is not limited to, long range wireless connections,short range wireless connections, and various wired connectionsincluding, but not limited to, telephone lines, cable lines, powerlines, and the like.

The exemplary communication devices of the system 10 may include, butare not limited to, an electronic device 12 in the form of a mobiletelephone, a combination personal digital assistant (PDA) and mobiletelephone 14, a PDA 16, an integrated messaging device (IMD) 18, adesktop computer 20, a notebook computer 22, etc. The communicationdevices may be stationary or mobile as when carried by an individual whois moving. The communication devices may also be located in a mode oftransportation including, but not limited to, an automobile, a truck, ataxi, a bus, a train, a boat, an airplane, a bicycle, a motorcycle, etc.Some or all of the communication devices may send and receive calls andmessages and communicate with service providers through a wirelessconnection 25 to a base station 24. The base station 24 may be connectedto a network server 26 that allows communication between the mobiletelephone network 11 and the Internet 28. The system 10 may includeadditional communication devices and communication devices of differenttypes.

The communication devices may communicate using various transmissiontechnologies including, but not limited to, Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Short Messaging Service (SMS),Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), e-mail, Instant Messaging Service(IMS), Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, etc. A communication device involved inimplementing various embodiments of the present invention maycommunicate using various media including, but not limited to, radio,infrared, laser, cable connection, and the like.

FIG. 8 shows one representative electronic device which may be used as anetwork node in accordance to the various embodiments of the presentinvention. It should be understood, however, that the scope of thepresent invention is not intended to be limited to one particular typeof device. The electronic device of FIG. 8 may includes a housing, adisplay in the form of a liquid crystal display, a keypad 34, amicrophone 36, an ear-piece 38, a battery, an infrared port 42, anantenna 44, a smart card 46 in the form of a UICC according to oneembodiment, a card reader 48, radio interface circuitry 52, codeccircuitry 54, a controller 56 and a memory 58. The above describedcomponents enable the electronic device to send/receive various messagesto/from other devices that may reside on a network in accordance withthe various embodiments of the present invention. Individual circuitsand elements are all of a type well known in the art, for example in theNokia range of mobile telephones.

Various embodiments described herein are described in the generalcontext of method steps or processes, which may be implemented in oneembodiment by a computer program product, embodied in acomputer-readable medium, including computer-executable instructions,such as program code, executed by computers in networked environments. Acomputer-readable medium may include removable and non-removable storagedevices including, but not limited to, Read Only Memory (ROM), RandomAccess Memory (RAM), compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVD),etc. Generally, program modules may include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types. Computer-executableinstructions, associated data structures, and program modules representexamples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosedherein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions orassociated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts forimplementing the functions described in such steps or processes.

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in software,hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware andapplication logic. The software, application logic and/or hardware mayreside, for example, on a chipset, a mobile device, a desktop, a laptopor a server. Software and web implementations of various embodiments canbe accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-basedlogic and other logic to accomplish various database searching steps orprocesses, correlation steps or processes, comparison steps or processesand decision steps or processes. Various embodiments may also be fullyor partially implemented within network elements or modules. It shouldbe noted that the words “component” and “module,” as used herein and inthe following claims, is intended to encompass implementations using oneor more lines of software code, and/or hardware implementations, and/orequipment for receiving manual inputs.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention havebeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to theprecise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of thepresent invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order toexplain the principles of the present invention and its practicalapplication to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the presentinvention in various embodiments and with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: determining a status of anobject on a first device; and sending an indicator of the status of theobject to a remote device, the indicator being configured to allow theremote device to present the status of the object.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: establishing audio and video communicationwith the remote device.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the audio andvideo communication is part of a video conference session.
 4. The methodof claim 2, wherein the audio and video communication with the remotedevice is established over a network.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe object is a physical object.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein theobject is a book, and the status is associated with a page number of thebook.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a virtual object.8. The method of claim 7, wherein the object is an electronic book. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the status is a physical state of theobject.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a book, andwherein the status is a page number of the book.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein the object is a book, and wherein the status is selectedcontent in the book.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:displaying animated content based on the determined status of theobject.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying animated contentincludes displaying an animated character providing commentary or askingquestions related to content associated with the object.
 14. A method,comprising: receiving an indicator of a status of an object at a remotedevice; determining the status of the object at the remote device basedon the received indicator; and presenting the status of the object to auser.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: displayinganimated content based on the determined status of the object.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein displaying animated content includesdisplaying an animated character providing commentary or askingquestions related to content associated with the object.
 17. Anapparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memoryincluding computer program code, the at least one memory and thecomputer code configured to, working with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: determining astatus of an object on a first device; and sending an indicator of thestatus of the object to a remote device, the indicator being configuredto allow the remote device to present the status of the object.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17, wherein the object is a book and the apparatusfurther comprises a receptacle for receiving a book therein.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 17, comprising one or more sensors configured todetermine the status of the book.
 20. A method, comprising: determininga status of an object on a first device at one or more time points;recording an indicator of the status at the one or more time points as asession; and sending the session to a remote device, the indicators inthe session being configured to allow the remote device to determine thestatus of the object.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sessionfurther includes audio and video content.
 22. A method, comprising:receiving a recorded session from a remote device, the sessioncomprising indicators of one or more statuses of an object, the sessionfurther comprising audio and video content associated with each of theone or more statuses of the object; and detecting a current status theobject; and playing the audio and video content associated with thedetected current status of the object.
 23. A method, comprising:recording audio and video content related to an object; associating eachof one or more portions of the audio and video content with a status ofthe object; and storing the audio and video content and the associationof the audio and video content on a storage media.
 24. The method ofclaim 23, further comprising: detecting the status of the object duringrecording of the audio and video content.
 25. A method, comprising:detecting a current status of an object; determining an association ofthe detected current status with a portion of a recorded audio and videocontent; and playing the portion of the audio and video contentassociated with the detected current status of the object.